First Technical Session : General Theory oj

Stability of Slopes
Tuesday morning, 21 September, 1954

Session 1/ 1

THE USE OF THE SLIP CIRCLE IN THE STABILITY

ANALYSIS OF SLOPES
bY
ALAS W. BISHOP, MA., Ph.D., A.M.I.C.E.
ISTKODUCTION
Errors may be introduced into the estimate of stability not only by the use of approximate
methods of stability analysis, but also by the use of sampling and testing methods which do
not reproduce sufficiently accurately the soil conditions and state of stress in the natural
ground or compacted fill under consideration. Unless equal attention is paid to each factor,
an elaborate mathematical treatment may lead to a fictitious impression of accuracy.
However, in a number of cases the uniformity of the soil conditions or the importance of
the problem will justify a more accurate analysis, particularly if this is coupled with field
measurements of pore pressure, which is the factor most difficult to assess from laboratory
data alone. Two classes of problem of particular note in this respect are :
(i) The design of water-retaining structures, such as earth dams and embankments,
where failure could have catastrophic results, but where an over-conservative design
may be very costly.
(ii) The examination of the long-term stability of cuts and natural slopes where large
scale earth movements may involve engineering works and buildings.
1
THE USE OF LIMIT DESIGN METHODS
It has been shown elsewhere by a relaxation analysis of a typical earth dam (Bishop, 1952)
that, even assuming idealized elastic properties for the soil, local overstress will occur when
the factor of safety (by a slip circle method) lies below a value of about 1.8. As the majority
of stability problems occur in slopes and dams having lower factors of safety than this, a
state of plastic equilibrium must be considered to exist throughout at least part of the slope.
Under these conditions a quantitative estimate of the factor of safety can be obtained by
examining the conditions of equilibrium when incipient failure is postulated, and comparing
the strength necessary to maintain limiting equilibrium with the available strength of the
soil. The factor of safety (F) is thus defined as the ratio of the available shear strength of
the soil to that required to maintain equilibrium. The shear strength mobilized is, therefore,
equal to s, where :
1
s=- c + (ql - 24) tan #J . . . . . . . (1)
1
where c denotes cohesion,
in terms of effective stress.*
4 denotes angle of shearing resistance, >
a, denotes total normal stress,
u denotes pore pressure.
* Measured either in undrained or consolidated-undrained tests with pore-pressure measurement, or in
drained tests carried out sufficiently slowly to ensure zero excess pore pressure.
7
8 ALAX 1%. BISHOP

Failure along a continuous rupture surface is usually assumed, but, as the shape and
position of this surface is influenced by the distribution of pore pressure and the variation of
the shear parameters within the slope, a generalized analytical solution is not possible and a
numerical solution is required in each individual case. The rigorous determination of the
shape of the most critical surface presents some difficulty (see, for example, Coenen, 1948),
and in practice a simplified shape, usually a circular arc, is adopted, and the problem is
assumed to be one of plane strain.

MECHANICS OF THE CIRCULAR ARC ANALYSIS

In order to examine the equilibrium of the mass of soil above the slip surface it follows
from equation (I) that it is necessary to know the value of the normal stress at each point on
this surface, as well as the magnitude of the pore pressure. It is possible to estimate the
value of the normal stress by following the method developed by Fellenius (1927, 1936), in
which the conditions for the statical equilibrium of the slice of soil lying vertically above each
element of the sliding surface are fully satisfied.
A complete graphical analysis of this type is most laborious, and this may result in the
examination of an insufficient number of trial surfaces to locate the most critical one. Several
simplified procedures have been developed using the friction circle method (Taylor, 1937,
1948 ; Friihlich, 1951), in which an assumption is made about the distribution of normal
stress, but their use is limited to cases in which 4 is constant over the whole of the failure
surface. More generally the slices method is used, with a simplifying assumption about
the effect of the forces between the slices.
The significance of this assumption may be examined by considering the equilibrium of
the mass of soil (of unit thickness) bounded by the circular arc ABCD, of radius R and centre
at 0 (Fig. 1(a)). In the case where no external forces act on the surface of the slope,

fig. 1. Forces in the slices method

 THE USE OF THE SLIP CIRCLE IN THE STABILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES 9
equilibrium must exist between the weight of the soil above ABCD and the resultant of the
total forces acting on ABCD.
Let -%, &,+i denote the resultants of the total horizontal forces on the sections n and n + 1
respectively,
and Xn, Xn+i ,, the vertical shear forces,
W 9, the total weight of the slice of soil,
P 3, the total normal force acting on its base,
S I> the shear force acting on its base,
h ,> the height of the element,
b 9, the breadth of the element,
1 >, the length BC,
a >> the angle between BC and the horizontal,
x >> the horizontal distance of the slice from the centre of rotation
The total normal stress is o,, where
P
a,=-. . . . . . . . . . . (2)
I
Hence, from equation (l), the magnitude of the shear strength mobilized to satisfy the
conditions of limiting equilibrium is s where :

~=~(cf+(~--~~)tan+}. . . . . . .

The shear force S acting on the base of the slice is equal to sl, and thus, equating the
moment about 0 of the weight of soil within ABCD with the moment of the external forces
acting on the sliding surface, we obtain :
ZWx~LSR=ZslR . . . . . . . (4)
It follows, therefore, from equation (3) that :

cl + (P -

From the equilibrium of the soil in the slice above BC, we obtain
ul) tan $
1. . . . . . P, by resolving in a
direction normal to the slip surface :
P = (W + X, - Xn+l) cos GC- (E, - E,+J sin dc . . . . 6%
The expression for F thus becomes :

F= cl + tan 4. (W cos u - 241)+

L
tan cf.

Since there are no external

i
(X, - Xntl) cos GC- (E, - E,,,) sinu

forces on the face of the slope, it follows that :

II . . . . . (7)

qx,, - Xn+l) = 0 . . . . . . . . (su)

Z(E, - E,,+l) = 0 . . . . . . . . (Sb)
However, except in the case where (b is constant along the slip surface and cc is also constant
(i.e., a plane slip surface), the terms in equation (7) containing X, and E, do not disappear.
A simplified form of analysis, suggested by Krey (1926) and Terzaghi (1929) and also presented
by May (1936) as a graphical method, implies that the sum of these terms

Z tan 4.
(X, - Xn+i) cos CI - (E, - En+,) sin t(
{ 1
may be neglected without serious loss in accuracy. This is the method at present used, for
example, by the U.S. Bureauof Reclamation (Daehn and Hilf, 1951).
1*
10 ALAN \V. BISHOP

Putting x = R sin u, the simplified form may be written :

F= cl+tan+.(Wcosa--1) . , . . .
.ZW sin a I
In earth dam design the construction pore pressures are often expressed as a function of
the total weight of the column of soil above the point considered, i.e.

where B is a soil parameter based either on field data or laboratory tests.

In this case, putting 1 = b set a, the expression for factor of safety can be further simplified

1 . . . . (11)
to :
Fz cl + tan 4. W(cos u -27 set u)
2W sin a
This expression permits the rapid and direct computation of the value of F which is
necessary if sufficient trial circles are to be used to locate the most critical surface. However,
as can be seen from the examples quoted later, the values of F are, in general, found to be
conservative, and may lead to uneconomical design. This is especially marked where con-
ditions permit deep slip circles round which the variation in ccis large.
To derive a method of analysis which largely avoids this error it is convenient to return
to equation (5). If we denote the effective normal force (P - uZ) by P (see Fig. l(b)), and
resolve the forces on the slice vertically, then we obtain, on re-arranging :

J,v +x, - &+l -1 *cosa+$sina

p = ( )
. . . . . (12)
tan 4. sin cc
cos u + -
F
Substituting in equation (5) and putting 1 = b set u and x = R sin a, an expression for

the factor of safety isobtained :

1
set a
F= 1 .Z cb + tan 4. (W(l - B) + (X,, - X,,,)) . (13)
.ZW sin a > tan#. tana
lf
[1 F
The values of (X, - Xn+J used in this expression are found by successive approximation,
and must satisfy the conditions given in equations (8). In addition, the positions of the lines
of thrust between the slices should be reasonable, and no unbalanced moment should be
implied in any slice. The factor of safety against sliding on the vertical sections should also
be satisfactory, though since the slip surface assumed is only an approximation to the actual
one, overstress may be implied in the adjacent soil.
The condition Z(X,, -X,+,) = 0 in equation (Su) can be satisfied directly by selecting
appropriate values of X,, etc. The corresponding sum .Z(E, - E,,_l) can be readily computed
in terms of the expression used in equation (13). Resolving the forces on a slice tangentially,
we obtain the expression :
(W + X,, - X,,,) sin u + (E, - E,,+l) cos a = S
or (En - &+J = S set u - (W + X+, - X,+,) tan a . . * (14)
* In practice the value of B will vary along the slip surface, though for preliminary design purposes it
is convenient to use a constant average value throughout the impervious zone.
 THE USE OF THE SLIP CIRCLE IN THE STABILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES 11

Now, if equation (13) is written :

Fr Lqwz] . . . . . . . .
ZW sin u

then s=; . . . . . . . . . . .
and hence Z(E,
- E,+r) = Z F set a - (W + X, - X,,,)
[
The X values must, therefore, also satisfy the condition that :
tan cc
1 . . . (17)

Z Fsecu - (W +X;, - Xn+J tana =0 . . . . .

[ I
In practice, an initial value of F is obtained by solving equation (13) on the assumption
that (X, - X%+J = 0 throughout. By suitably tabulating the variables a solution can be
obtained after using two or three trial values of F. The use of (X, - X,,,) = 0 satisfies
equation (Sa), but not equation (18). Values of (X, - X,,,) are then introduced in order
to satisfy equation (18) also. These values can then be finally adjusted, either graphically
or analytically, until the equilibrium conditions are fully satisfied for each slice.
From the practical point of view it is of interest to note that, although there are a number
of different distributions of (X, - X,,,) which satisfy equation (18), the corresponding varia-
tions in the value of F are found to be insignificant (less than 1% in a typical case).
It should also be noted that, since the error in the simplified method given in equations (9)
and (11) varies with the central angle of the arc, it will lead to a different location for the
most critical circle than that given by the more rigorous method. It will, therefore, generally
be necessary to examine a number of trial circles by this latter method.

PARTIALLY SUBMERGED SLOPES

The total disturbing moment is now that of the soil above ABCD, less the moment about 0
of the water pressure acting on DLM (Fig. 2 (a)). If we imagine a section of water bounded
by a free surface at MN and outlined by NDLM, and similarly take moments about 0, the
normal forces on the arc ND all pass through 0 and the moment of the water pressure on DLM
is therefore equal to the moment of the mass of water NDLM about 0.
Since the weight of a mass of saturated soil less the weight of water occupying the same
volume is equal to its submerged weight, the resultant disturbing moment due to the mass of
soil above ABCD and to the water pressure on DLM is given by using the bulk density of the
soil above the level of the external free water surface and the submerged density below.
It should be noted that the boundary MN implies nothing about the magnitude of the
pore pressures inside the slope and is only used to obtain the statically equivalent disturbing
moment.
The disturbing moment is therefore Z(W1 + W&z . . . . . . . . . (19)
where WI denotes full weight of the soil in the slice above MN,
WZ submerged weight of soil in the part of the slice below MN.
It is also cgnvenient to obtain the expression for the effective normal force P in terms of
WI and Wz. It can be seen from Fig. 2 (b) and (c) that, resolving vertically as before, it
follows that :
WI + W, j-X, -Xn+l -1 zc,cosa +gsina
p = (
. . . * (20)
tan 4. sin u
cos a t_
F
12 ALAN W. BISHOP

xn-xn-I

WF2
1
W

Xn+fi II

t- En+1

(CY tan 8 =*.ton f

Fig. 2. Partially Submerged Slopes

where u, is the pore pressure expressed as an excess over the hydrostatic pressure corre-
sponding to the water level outside the slope; that is
u,=u-y,.z . .
(21). . . . . . . .
where ywdenotes the density of water,
and z the depth of slice below MN. (If no part of the slice is submerged, 21, = zt.)
It follows,therefore, that for partial submergence the expression for factor of safety *
becomes :

1
1 set CL
F= Z cb + tan 4. (WI + W, - bu, + XT-)
.Z(W, + W,) sin a > tan 4. tan tc
1+
i F
. . . . . (22)
The forces between the slices now have to satisfy the conditions :
z(x, - ~y,+~) = 0 . . . . . . . . . (23~)

Z(E,, - E,+,) = - ; . y&i2 . . . . . . . (23b) .

* A similar treatment of the simplified method leads to the expression

1
F=-- Z cl + tan #. (W, + IV, cos cc - u,b xc . . (22a)
a)
Z(W, + W,) since I
This treatment of the pore pressure leads to consistent results throughout the full range of submergence
(Bishop, 1952).
 THE USE OF THE SLIP CIRCLE IN THE STABILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES 13
where d is the depth of water at the toe of the slip, which causes a horizontal water thrust on
the vertical section with which the slip terminates.
TO obtain an expression for Z(E, - E,+J, we resolve tangentially as before :
(WI + W, + bzy, + X, - Xn+l) sin u + (E, - E,+J cos a = S
or (En - E,+J = S set a - (WI + W, + X, - X,+,) tan a - y,zb tan cc . - (24
Writing equation (22) as :
1
I;= . Z[m] . . . . . . . . (25)
2(W1 + W,) sin a

s=; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (26)
Hence

&!L - &+r) = .Z F set a - (WI + W2 + X, - X,,,) tan a] - B[ywzb tan a] . (27)

1
Now Z y,zb tan a =_ 2yw. d2 . . . . . . . P)
Thus equation (23b) is satisfied when

.Z z set a -
[
(WI + W2 + X, - X,,,)
1
tan cc = 0

It can be seen, therefore, that for partially submerged slopes an analogous method is
. . . . (29)

obtained by using submerged densities for those parts of the slices which lie below the level
of the external free water surface, and by expressing the pore pressures there as an excess
above the hydrostatic pressure corresponding to this water level.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Only a limited number of stability analyses have so far been carried out in which both
the simplified and the more rigorous methods have been used. From these it appears,
however, that the major part of the gain in accuracy can be obtained by proceeding with the
solution of equations (13) or (22) only as far as the starting value of F given by taking
(X, - Xn+r) = 0. This avoids the more time-consuming stages of the solution, and provides
a convenient routine method in which the time required for the analysis of each trial circle
is from one to two hours or about twice that required using the simplified methods.
This may be illustrated by the two following cases.
(i) Pore firessures set up in a boulder clay $11 dwang construction.-The cross-section of the
dam and the soil properties used in the analysis are given in Fig 3 (a). From laboratory tests
and other data it is considered that an average pore pressure equal to 40% of the weight
of the overlying soil might be expected, i.e. 8 = 0.4.
For this condition the simplified method indicates a factor of safety of 138. The value
given by equation (13), with (X, - X,,,) = 0, is 1.53.
The two methods do not lead to the same critical circle. The circle having a factor of
safety of 133 by the simplified method gives a value of 1.59 using equation (13) with
(X, - Xn+i) = 0. The introduction of trial values of (X, - X,,,) makes only a small further
change in the factor of safety, a value of I.60 or 1.61 being obtained depending on the assumed
distribution of X,.
The form of tabulation used for the routine solution with (X, - X,,,) = 0 is given in
Table 1.
It is useful from the design point of view to know the influence of possible variations in
construction pore pressure on the factor of safety, and for this purpose the factor of safety
may be plotted directly against average pore pressure ratio as in Fig. 3 (b).
14 ALAN W. BISHOP

(ii) Pore pressures set up in a

moraine fill during a partial rapid
drawdown.-The cross-section of the
dam and the soil properties used in
the analysis are given in Fig. 4.
The basis of the method by which
the draw-down pore pressures are
calculated has been described by
the author elsewhere (Bishop, 1952),
and their values are indicated by
a line representing stand-pipe levels
above different points on the slip
surface.
Using the average values of the
soil properties (Case I), the simpli-
fied method (equation (22a)) gives
a factor of safety of 1.50, and the
r more rigorous solution (equation
(22), with (X, - X%+r) = 0) gives
)- a value of 184.* As before, the
two methods lead to different critical
circles. The inclusion of trial values
of (X, - X,,,) raises the value
I.5
Factor from 184 to 1.92, the value by the
Of simplified method for this particular
Safety
circle being 1.53. About 80% of
I. 0
the gain in accuracy in this case is
thus achieved without introducing
the X, terms.
The form of tabulation for the
routine solution in the case of partial
submergence is given in Table 2.
o-
0 100

(b) CONCLUSION
Errors may be introduced into
Rig. 3. End of construction case: relationship between
factor of safety and pore pressure an estimate of stability by both
the sampling and testing pro-
cedure, and in many cases an
approximate method of stability analysis may be considered adequate. Where, however,
considerable care is exercised at each stage, and, in particular, where field measurements of
pore pressure are being used, the simplified slices method of analysis is not sufficiently
accurate.
This is illustrated by the two examples given above. The error is likely to be of particular
importance where deep slip circles are involved. This is illustrated by Fig. 5 in which the
collected results of the two stability analyses are plotted in terms of the value of the central
angle of the arc. It will be seen that the value of the factor of safety given by the simplified
method, expressed as a percentage of that given by the more rigorous method [using
(-G - X,,,,) = 01, drops rapidly as the central angle of the arc increases. This effect is
particularly marked for the higher values of excess pore pressure.
* For Case II the corresponding values are 1.14 and 1.48.
THE USE OF THE SLIP CIRCLE IN THE STABILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES 15

I
CaseI Case II
/ Density-lb,cu. ft
d
lbjsq. ft 4

0 1 40

0 40

ial Water Level. 81 Ft.

Standpipe Level in Mmainc Fill after Rapid Drawdown

tandpipc Level in Rock Fill alter Rapid Orawdown

Final Water Level. 25 Ft.

Moraine Fill

Fig. 4. Drawdown analysis of an upstream slope

(b) TYPICAL RAPID DRAW-DOWN CASES.

(Deta~lr gwen on Fig.41

(0) TYPICAL CONSTRUCTLON CASE,

FOR YARIOUS VALUES OF B.
(Dttod. girm tn F1q.3)

Fig. 5. Influence of central angle of arc on accuracy of conventional method

Fc is factor of safety by conventional method.
Fr is factor of safety by more rigorous method on same sliding surface.
 L,
&tar Slice No.

b ft.
_____ _____~
hr (rock fill)

hm (moraine)

h, (submerged)
I__
Y-7 WY w,--_-____---_----
Wm.1

( W,

1 (W, +W,) lb. x lo3

~~ ~~_ .._
I
__ I~~ Cd ~~ _.. !2 _ W sin bl
0 u N
I cl t(
gy....z 5 / cb (2) I
(W, + W,) sin= (1)
_____._ ._ _~~~
A, (excess standpipe ht.)

tan cc
______.~
set CL
tan &. tan a
l-t (5)
F
--__ (4) x (5)
(4) x (5) (6)
 THE USE OF THE SLIP CIRCLE IN THE STABILITY ANALYSIS OF SLOPES 17
In these cases the use of the modified analysis outlined above is to be recommended, which,
if carried only as far as the (X, - X,,,) = 0 stage, can readily be used for routine work.
Little field evidence is yet available for checking the overall accuracy of the stability
calculation except in those cases where the + = 0 analysis has been applicable, and this
emphasizes the need for failure records complete with pore-pressure data for both natural
slopes and trial embankments.

_XKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The second example is included with the kind approval of the North of Scotland Hydro-
Electric Board and their consulting engineers, .a. Alexander Gibb & Partners. The
Author is also indebted to Mr D. W. Lamb for carrying out a number of the other calculations.

REFERENCES
BISHOP, A. W., 1952. The Stability of Earth Dams. Univ. ofLondon. Ph.D. Thesis.*
COENEN, P. A., 1948. Fundamental Equations in the Theory of Limit Equilibrium. Pvoc. 21td Int.
Conf. Soil. Mech. 7 : 15.
DAEHN, W. W., and HILF, J. W., 1951. Implications of Pore Pressure in Design and Construction of
Rolled Earth Dams. Trans. 4th Cong. Large Dams. 1 : 259.
FELLENIUS, W., 1927. Erdstatische Berechnungen mit Reibung und Kohaesion. Ernst, Berlin.
FELLENIUS, W., 1936. Calculation of the Stability of Earth Dams. Trans. 2nd Gong. Large Dams. 4 : 445.
FR~)HLICN,0. K., 1951. On the Danger of Sliding of the Upstream Embankment of an Earth Dam. Trans.
4th Cong. Large Dams. 1 : 329.
KREY, H., 1926. Erddruck, Erdwiderstand und Tragfaehigkeit des Baugrundes. Ernst, Berlin.
MAY, D. R., and BRAHTZ, J. H. A., 1936. Proposed Methods of Calculating the Stability of Earth Dams.
Tram. 2nd Gong. Large Dams. 4 : 539.
TAYLOR, D. W., 1937. Stability of Earth Slopes. J. Bostolz Sot. Civ. Eng. 24 : 197.
TAYLOR, D. W., 1948. Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics. John Wiley, New York.
TERZAGHI, K., 1929. The Mechanics of Shear Failures on Clay Slopes and Creep of Retaining Walls.
Pub. Rds., 10 : 177.

* A discussion of the pore pressures set up in earth dams has since been published in Gt!otechnique,
4 : 4 : 148.

2*